2 Ellenville cops in druggie video under scrutiny

ELLENVILLE — Two village police officers are under departmental investigation after they were identified in a hip-hop video extolling drugs.

BY JEREMIAH HORRIGAN

ELLENVILLE — Two village police officers are under departmental investigation after they were identified in a hip-hop video extolling drugs.

The video was produced by the hip-hop artist who goes by the performing name of R. H. Bless, and is titled "20 bags 30 Bags."

The video was shot at a local birthday party about three weeks ago.

It was made available on YouTube about 10 days ago and has since been taken down, according to sources close to the investigation.

Ellenville police Chief Phil Mattracion said Tuesday that he had seen the video last week and immediately conferred with Ulster County District Attorney Holley Carnright, who determined that the officers' presence in the video was not illegal.

But Mattracion said he is concerned about the public perception that the video conveys and that his department's investigation continues.

Mattracion, while declining specific comment in light of the continuing investigation, said the officers' intentions, whether they were even aware they would be part of a public presentation as well as whatever editing might have been used in the production will all have to be determined.

Several attempts to contact the performer were unsuccessful Wednesday.

Mattracion acknowledged that on its surface at least, the public perception generated by the video was "embarrassing and disappointing because of the lack of judgment."

He added that the incident contained what he called a teachable moment. "And not just for police officers but for everyone, especially for young people — and that is you must be careful about anything to do with social media because its ill effects can haunt you and your family the rest of your life," Mattracion said.

Unconfirmed reports say that other public employees, though not police officers, were involved in the video.

Ellenville Mayor Jeff Kaplan said the Village Board will take up the issues resulting from the posting in executive session on Monday.

Kaplan said he'd seen the video last week and shared Mattracion's concern about the public perception of the video.

"There's a potential for its use to discredit officers involved in drug arrests," he said.